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meet Maria
foodie, art enthusiast, and visual designer turned entrepreneur
Zelos Authentic Greek Artisan was created in 2017 by Maria Kalomenidou, a Greek visual designer and art enthusiast living in Cincinnati, Ohio. Maria wanted to share with others her zēlos (“zeal”) for healthy and tasty Greek food and to give back to the land of her birth by helping authentic Greek artisans find their American audience. In her more than thirty years abroad, good food has always been for Maria a way of living a happy and healthy life, of offering love, of nurturing strong ties with family and friends. With Zelos she shares her desire to showcase the flavors and drive that are modern Greece.
Meet the Zelos Team
Get to know the people behind Zelos and what they do for me and you each day.
Pauline Manos, Business & Brand Strategy
I’m Pauline, baptized Panagiota, but if you’re Greek-American like me, you know how that goes! I call myself Maria's sidekick, since I’ve been with her from the start of this Zelos adventure. We have our best meetings in Greece, where I visit often from my base in Brussels, Belgium, where I work as a marketing consultant. Things I love: going “home” to the States to visit family & friends, reading anything & everything, My fave Zelos product: Agrozimi's orzo-kritharaki, I just love the texture. Fave Zelos recipe: my friend Juan's Greek-Colombian fusion soup that made me see minestrone in a whole new light!
Marianna Tsourapa, MARKETING
Hi, I'm Marianna and I joined the Zelos team in January 2024 for all things Marketing and Communications. I am originally from Athens, grew up in Switzerland and spent the last years travelling while working as as brand and marketing consultant. I love summers spent in Greece, discovering the best places to eat all around the country and capturing everything in between. My favorite product from Zelos definetely is Mandarin Peel Spoon Sweet by Citrus Chios:)
Alicia Martin, Warehouse & Operations
Hi, I’m Alicia and I joined the Zelos team in 2020 as the Warehouse Manager. I was born & raised on a farm in California, Kentucky, not far from Cincinnati, and love horses & horseback riding. I’m not Greek but my family owns the first ever “Cincinnati Chili” restaurant, which has Greek roots (more on that in our blog!), and I pack and ship out all our Zelos treats from our warehouse. I've grown fond of Greek cuisine and my favorite Zelos product is Sparoza's Greek Granny Tzatziki Mix - dipping any fresh vegetable in it leaves me feeling refreshed!
Jean Fleming, SEO & content
I’m Jean and I help Zelos with content strategy from my home in Mani, on the Peloponnese. While I wasn't not lucky enough to be born in Greece, I'm grateful to have corrected that flaw, and love living in an olive grove that looks over the Mediterranean. Introducing artisanal - and amazing - Greek food to discerning food lovers definitely sparks joy for me.
The Zelos Greek Artisan Philosophy
A small-batch, purpose-driven, marketplace
Zelos Life
We bring to the US authentic, responsibly-sourced, Greek flavors, while helping small businesses in Greece to grow and prosper. Together with our Artisans, we work with zēlos, the Greek word for zeal,great energy and enthusiasm, allowing you to experience the tastes of modern Greece from afar.
Trust in our products' origins & ingredients
Shop Food
We know you value clean, all-natural food. We, too, are convinced that small-batch artisanal food is a healthier and tastier alternative to industrially-processed foods. We only choose organic or all-natural products that are produced locally in Greece.
Enjoy an authentic Greek food experience
Greek Recipes
We know that authentic experiences are important to you. We want you to enjoy the true taste of modern Greecethat goes beyond the clichés, to enjoy the same genuine flavors that we grew up with and to discover contemporary Greek cuisine at its best.
Support our zealous Greek Artisans
Meet our Artisans
We know that you care for the social impact of your choices. When you buy one of our Artisans' products, you support a small business with big dreams. Our producers work in a very challenging economic environment, yet make it a point to help their local communities.
The Zelos Promise
